Fixtures that survive changeovers

Changeovers eat the day

In a busy shop, the time between jobs often adds up to more than the cutting. Changeovers go wrong when fixtures, pins and clamps are scattered, and when only one person knows how a setup goes together.

Photo logs and pockets

Every repeat job gets a photo of the fixture set up, printed and kept in a sleeve on the wall. Small parts for that job live in a labelled pocket. The operator matches the photo, checks the datum, and starts.

Practise it

Run a timed changeover once a month with whoever is newest. It shows up gaps in the photos and the labels, and it builds confidence for when the senior operator is on leave.

The slip we see most

Changing a fixture slightly for one job and not updating the photo.

How you know it is working

A newer operator can do a changeover alone, and the time is about the same as the senior operator's.

Written by Claire Els, Tooling and Care Lead. Claire looks after the bit sets, care kits and the Friday audit routine.